NICE to see that Charles Allen, ITV’s outgoing chief executive, is set to have his leaving party tonight among the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum. The struggling broadcaster, which has been criticised by some for taking its time to find a replacement for Allen, may not have to look further than the museum’s four walls to find the right candidate.

The great and the good in the world of broadcasting are expected at the bash, with the party-loving Allen expecting about 400 media luvvies. May we suggest that Zygos, the headhunter looking for a new chief executive, hires a room at the museum and uses the opportunity to carry out interviews on site. While key media figures are expected to attend, it is uncertain, however, whether Sir Peter Burt, the ITV chairman, will make an appearance. Word is he may have another more important engagement.

INTERESTING to see Collins Stewart put out a “buy” note on British Energy today — some six hours before the group’s shares dived about 20 per cent. Not meaning to be too vicious — the broker did say that, if the announcement on tube cracking was negative, which it was, we could easily see the share price fall below 500p — which it did.

Googled?

A SPAT between Goldman Sachs and Goldmansex.com, which triggered proceedings by the investment bank against the adult entertainment website, ended in the domain name being snatched away by the National Arbitration Forum in the United States.

Rumour has it that further proceedings have now been brought against the founder Rob Muller’s new domain, Goldmensex.com, by the bank. Muller was quoted on HereistheCity.com saying that he received a fax from NAF, informing him that Goldman Sachs has started new proceedings. However, according to the report, he is confident that he will win this time as the new venture is not a pornography site. Well, not in the conventional sense. It is simply “an advertisement portal for adult entertainers, and offers similar information provided by the likes of Google and Yellow Pages”, he is quoted as saying.

A RESTAURANT chain backed by Gavyn Davies, the former BBC Chairman and Goldman Sachs banker, through Active Capital, his private equity firm, is planning to cash in on the fashion for organic and fair trade food with a big expansion drive. Leon, described as an upmarket fast-food chain, has five restaurants in London and is understood to be planning its sixth on the Strand within months. It is hoping to open a further up to ten sites next year. Rumour has it that the chain is planning to expand outside London in 2008.

City jesters

THEY have become the new must-have for new product launches. The Ministry of Fun, the company that specialises in humorous PR stunts, has gained quite a following in the City of late.

Recent campaigns have involved scores of men in bowler hats armed with briefcases striding across London Bridge for last week’s launch of The Business magazine, a giant goldfish taking black cabs and visiting eateries for Goldfish credit card’s campaign, and a line of besuited men eating bowls of Weetabix on the Tube. Whatever next?

city.diary@thetimes.co.uk

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